Airship turn-table.



J. T., J. A. & R. A. RICE.

AIRSHIP TURNTABLE.

APPLICATION FILED'MAR.23. l9l7.

1,247,01 0. Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. T., J. A. & R. A. RICE.

AIRSHIP TURNTABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.23. 19:1.

1,247,010. Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET -2- para eras JOEL TROUT RICE, JOEL A. RICE, AND ROYAL A.RICE, OF NEW YORK, Y.

AIRSHIP TURN-TABLE.

LZMZQOM).

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Ray, 29, 191.7;

Application filed March 23, 1917. SerialNo. 157,001.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOEL T. RICE, Jon. A. Bron, and ROYAL A. Bron,citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county ofBronx, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Airship Turn-Table, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an aerial turntable wherein a turntable and acar are operable to receive a dirigible or other airship and turn thesame in any desired direction, and the advantages of our invention are:first, to provide means for removing an air ship from its hangar andturning it in any desired direction; second, to provide an air shipcarrying car, and a track therefor, the interrelation of the two beingsuch that the car may be propelled along the track but is restrainedfrom leaving the track; third, to provide a turntable, and a cartherefor, and

automatic means to retain the car upon the turntable when in certainpredetermined positions, and to permit it to leave the'turntable, whenin other positions; fourth, to provide a turntable, and a car providedwith resilient means for retaining an air ship in place thereon; andfifth, to provide a turntable and a connecting track, and automaticmeans for locking the turntableto the track.

\Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the completedevice, showing the rotary member in one revolved position in dottedlines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing a dirigible in placethereon.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the car and its track in cross section.

Fig. et is a detail view showing the car detent in side elevation, andin car engaging position.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the car detent in side elevation, and inrelease position.

Fig. 6 is a detail view, showing in side elevation the spring to whichthe grappling cables are connected.

The turntable consists of side beams 5-5,.

which are connected b the cross ties 6 the central cross tie beingaperturedto'receive the stub shaft 4. The ends of thesidebars 5 areslottedto receive the track 2 and within'the ends rollers 7 maybemounted to re duce-the friction between the track and "turntable. Theturntable is also supported by the track 2 and anti-friction bearings 7-may be provided at the points of support. Arranged on the turntable isa'tra ck formed of: the lower rails 8 8: and the upper rails 8 8,arranged in pairs, the rails being preferably formed of angle iron, andeach pair held in spaced relation by supports 9.

Reciprocatively mounted in each endmostcross tie 6, is a resilientlyheld plunger 10, the upper end of which has pivotal connection with oneend of a lever 11 which is fulcrumed on a pin supported by ears 12, andthe otherend 13 of which is formed'in a crotch for a purpose to beexplained. A cam surface 14 is formed on a sleeper 1 for the.

purpose of contacting the lower end of the plunger 10 and raising thesame, thereby lowering the end 13 of the lever.

A car, for supporting an air ship, is to be mounted on the turntable,the flanged wheels 15 of which ride between the lower rails 8 and theupper rails 8, so as to hold the car against rising from the turntable.This car may be of any suitable form and construction, the preferredform here shown, consisting of skeleton side frames 16,connected bycross rods 17. Secured to the side frames 16, are resilient air shipretaining members or anchors, which are here shown as cables 18, passingthrough the upper bar of each side frame 16, and each cable is provided,at its free end, with a grappling hook 19, while its other end issecured to a spring 20.

A track 21, may lead in any direction from the turntable and along itthe car with its air ship may be conveyed from or to the hangar 22. Theend of the track 21, adjacent the turntable, is provided with resilientlatches 23-23 for the purpose of stopping the turntable with its trackin alinement with the track 21. hen the turntable is in the position oftrack alinement, the plunger 10 is in contact With the cam 1%, therebyloW- ering the end 13 of the lever 11, and releasing the car from theturntable. When in its elevated position, the lever 11 has its crotchedend 13 in engagement with the axle 24: of the car, as seen most clearlyin Fig. 4, for the purpose of retaining the car in position on theturntable.

In practice, the device is used as folloWs:The turntable is swung to theposition with its track alining with the track 21, the car is propelledinto the hangar and the air ship placed thereon and secured thereto bythe cables 18 and their grappling hooks 19, and the car returned to theturntable. The turntable may then be swung to a position most suitablefor launching the air ship, the grappling hooks released, and the shiplaunched. When receiving an air ship, after flight, the turntable isswung to a position most convenient for landing, the air Ship received011 the car and secured thereto, and the turntable swung to the properposi' tion to allOW the car to be propelled into the hangar.

Having described our invention, What We claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an airship turntable, a rotary track, a car adapted to the track,and automatic means for locking the car on the rotary track.

2. In an airship turntable, a rotary track, a car adapted to the track,and n automatically operated detent for the car.

3. In an airship turntable, a rotary track, a car adapted to the track,automatic means for locking the car on the rotary track, and means toretaining the car in contact With the track.

4. In an airship turntable, a stationary track, a rotary track adaptedto aline therewith in one position, a car adapted to the track, andautomatic means to lock the car on the rotary track When the tracks areout of alinement.

5. In an airship turntable, a rotary track, a car adapted to the track,and a cam re leased detent for the car.

6. In an airship turntable, a rotary track, a car adapted to the track,an automatic de tent for the car, means for retaining the car in ContactWith the track, and means for grappling an airship to the car.

7. In an airship turntable, a rotary track, a car adapted to the track,and means carried by the car for grappling an air ship thereto.

8. In an airship turntable, a support, a rotary member pivotally mountedon the support, a circular track, and track embracing ends on the rotarymember.

9. In an airship turntable, a support, a

rotary track mounted on the support, a lever on the rotary track, and acam on the support to operate the lever to lock a ear on the rotarytrack.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own, We have heretoatlixed our signatures in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

@opies at this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

